"What are you doing?"

Bai Meili slightly tapped my hand. This woman was Bai Suxin's biological mother. "These pair of mother and daughter will be going to Red District."

'Red District?'

The two women were crying and begging. Asking for forgiveness, for second chance. Asking Bai Meili to be merciful and pity them.

I was moved. My heart tugged at their pitiful state. I want to help them but then, Bai Meili said: "You have to harden your heart dear or else others will see you as a joke. And your words as flowers. Sometimes, you have to remind these people their social status. So that they won't forget."

"But it's just a bun."

Why punish them for just a piece of bread?

"It's a bun today. How about tomorrow? My jade bracelet? My money? My gold? My husband?"

I wanted to argue more but Bai Meili won't listen.

She ignored the two slaves and immediately ordered our guards to dragged them out of the manor and sent them to Red District.

"What's wrong with you?"

I looked at Jin'er, confused. Her hands were shaking badly and even her eyes were wandering everywhere. She looked so distracted and nervous.

"Jin'er?"

Suddenly, the tea pot slipped from her hand. Next, I gaped at her when she suddenly knelt infront of me.

"My lady, forgive me. Please, don't send me to Red District."

I knelt with her. "Why would I send you there? Why? Do you want to go there?"

"No! I.. I want to stay with you, my lady."

Jin'er explained everything to me. The dark place called Red District is a place for prostitution. The madam there accepts women ranging from age 12 to 50. Sometimes, the masters of some famous manor can send their disobedient slaves to the red district as punishment. And they can even sell them if they want and let their slaves stay there forever. Sometimes, those slaves choose death than stay in that place.

"I would never do that." I reassured Jin'er.

"My lady." Her tearstained face looked at me as if I am god.

"Jin'er, you're my friend. If you want, I can burn your slave contract and let you have your freedom."

Shocked, she stammered. "M-my lady."

In the end, Jin'er stayed with me. She insisted to stay with me and want to prove her loyalty to me forever. I was touched but then, thinking that someday, I will leave this world behind, my heart also felt sad.

Jin'er is like a sister to me.

Even though, I can't wait to go back to my world. But leaving Jin'er behind in this cruel place, I am a bit reluctant. It's just so sad. I'm worried about this little girl.

Two years ago, when I woke up and transmigrated here, I heard a woman's voice, telling me that I can only go back, if I acted my role well and die at Bai Suxin's death day.

The first few months, I rebelled and did crazy things. I was scared. I was desperate. I want to go home. I miss my family. I cried and cried and cried.

I was going crazy.

I prayed to all the gods to take me back. I don't want to be here. I want my life.

'I want my Mom. My real Mom.'

"Mom?"

"Oh dear. My daughter, you're crying again. What is it? Another nightmare?"

I blinked and looked at her. Bai Meili held my hand, her worried eyes on me.

I unfeelingly retracted my hand. Stunned with my action, the gentle smile on her lips became stiff.

'I want my Mom. My real Mom.'

"What are you doing here?"

"I.. I'm worried. Jin'er said, you're having nightmares again."

Since that time where Bai Meili sent the two slaves to Red District, I built an invisible barrier between us. Even though, it wasn't her fault but the society itself. It just bothers me that this woman was so gentle and loving to Bai Suxin but so ruthless to others, to slaves.

Yes. Bai Suxin was her daughter so it's understandable but remembering how she didn't even blinked when those two slaves begged their life to her, it didn't settle to me well.

"I'm fine." I turned to the other side, showing my back on her. "I want to sleep. Please, next time don't enter my room without my permission."

"Xin'er.. I.."

She sighed. "I understand."

I heard her footsteps gradually fading. Closing my eyes, my lips quivered. "Mom, I miss you. Mom, I want to go home. Mom."

This strange world, these ancient people, their weird system and their unfair society status. It's scary. How it's easy for nobles to kill commoners and sell slaves and treat them worse than pigs.

——

Three days had passed. Lu Kai finally returned from the palace.

"Hands and mind to be as one." I mumbled. That was what Master Zheng told me earlier in class.

The slightly touch of the string, the guqin made another horrifying sound, as if reflecting my emotional state right now.

I grunted. 'I give up. This is hard.'

Sighing, I put down the instrument. I walked towards my personal guard and grumbled. "How is he?"

There was a moment of silence.

"The fourth prince is still sick." Lu Kai bowed to me.

I frowned. I could remember a particular sad scene in the novel where the male lead got gravely sick and no one was there to care enough for the fourth prince.

Clicking my tongue, the corner of my mouth twitched. "Why is he still sick? Did you deliver the medicine? His food?"

For the first time, I got worried to the tragic childhood life of the male lead that was created by that horny author.

'He's just fifteen!'

"Yes, my lady but.." Lu Kai hesitated.

My eyes squinted. "I see."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, tapping my foot in the process, a thumb between my teeth. "He's being stubborn. That damn prince."